Tweeters Meet mOblu-ers? The Latest in Social Networking for Gas Guzzlers

As fuel prices average at least $2.50 per gallon in every state except South Carolina, a new Web site combines a fuel tracker with a social networking tool by allowing motorists to track how much they spend at the pump and how much bang they get for their buck. Oh, and they can then tell the whole world about it on Twitter.

I recall the good old days when motorists would keep a fuel and maintenance log in their glove compartments and enter in their odometer reading at each fill-up as well as monitoring their car’s service needs. Today, meet mOblu.com. The free site, originating from a husband and wife team joined by a computer programmer and a software engineer from Canada, has been featured in recently in the New York Times, Newsweek and The Wall Street Journal as the latest fad for the technorati to chart their vehicle’s gas mileage.

But it does more than just log your trips. Enter a starting point and destination and it will tell you the amount of carbon monoxide produced, in addition to the amount of fuel used and the fuel cost based upon the price you most recently paid at the pump. Sounds similar to fleet software. But in your garage can you also calculate the carbon cost of your vehicle?

Right to Repair Act Designed to Help Chrysler, GM Customers

More and more automotive shops, obviously, are supporting the Right to Repair Act, which was introduced in the U.S. House in April to protect the ability of consumers to choose their own preferred mechanic to perform warranty work. This has never been more important than for owners of Chrysler and GM models.

Amid bankruptcy, both automakers have announced wide-scale closings of dealerships nationwide that perform the vast majority of warranty work. While Chrysler and GM have also said owners' warranties will remain valid through their expiration date regardless of where the vehicles were purchased -- and any necessary work can be performed at any certified mechanic's shop -- there is anxiety about having to drive many miles in rural areas to reach the next closest dealership certified to perform the work.

The Right to Repair Act would put it in writing that independent repair shops could compete for business previously guaranteed only to dealerships or dealer-contracted garages.

Are you worried about where you can take either your fleet or personal vehicle amid these dealership closings? Are you in a rural area where the closest dealership may be many miles away? Let us know what you think.

Power Steering Repair

On the School Bus Mechanic Blog, John takes a look at a Haldex Two Stage Power Steering Pump from a 1998 Pusher School Buses. Take a look and let us know what you think. Document your on repairs and discoveries to share on this blog and email Ryan@stnonline.com

Thomas Moving Towards an All-Electric?

Daimler AG, the parent company of Thomas Built Buses, has purchased a 10 percent stake in electric vehicle company Tesla Motors, according to a press release. The companies said they will cooperate on battery drive systems, electric drive systems and vehicle projects. Could this put Thomas closer to an all-electric school bus? Representatives from from Thomas weren't immediately available to answer. But for prognosticators and green bus enthusiasts there's some exciting potential.

Thomas is already working on a hybrid Saf-T-Liner C2. According to the release, Daimler and Tesla were also working together to integrate Tesla's lithium-ion battery packs and chargers into Daimler's electric smart car. The release goes on to note that Daimler just founded the Deutsche Accumotive GmbH, a joint venture with Evonik Industries AG, which makes the company "the first vehicle manufacturer worldwide that develops, produces and markets batteries for automotive applications.

Could a new all electric bus be far off?

The Bracket

The NAPT has launched a blog for its America's Best Tech Inspect competition. Check out the site to see the latest results from the regional competitions. Online now: links to stories about winners in Texas, Georgia, Iowa and more.

About that Hydrogen Powered School Bus II ...

The U.S. Department of Energy will drop its research into hydrogen powered cars, the New York Times reports. Discussing the Department of Energy's budget, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said DOE will focus on small labs, a power plant that would turn coal into gas and separate out carbon dioxide and other projects [more details as we sift through the budget]. The New York Times notes:

The retreat from cars powered by fuel cells counters Mr. Bush’s prediction in 2003 that “the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by hydrogen, and pollution-free.” The Energy Department will continue to pay for research into stationary fuel cells, which Dr. Chu said could be used like batteries on the power grid and do not require compact storage of hydrogen.

Earlier this year, the Department of Energy specifically said hydrogen powered school buses did not have a viable future.

Given these issues [public health and fuel economy], school bus operators are increasingly receptive to new technologies, but their willingness to demonstrate and deploy advanced technologies and alternative fuels must be balanced with strict financial and operational considerations

Also online, John Whelan shows how to replace power steering hoses on a pusher school bus.

Goodbye Prius, Hello Volt

Newsweek has a story that's worth reading on why first-generation, Prius-style hybrids may be the first victims of a shift to plug-in hybrids. Why dump these relatively new cars? Because the market will need to make room for their much more efficient younger brothers and sisters. Of course, Prius maker Toyota disagrees:

"The fact that the Prius has been around for 10 years does not mean it is old news or obsolete. In fact, it keeps getting better and better," says John Hanson, a company spokesman ... Hanson says Toyota is doing research on lithium-ion batteries, and plans a plug-in hybrid prototype for next year. But he insists that for now its tried-and-true batteries are best, and that lithium ion isn't ready for prime time. "Battery science is not where it needs to be," he says.

Recently, we've seen a bit of news on the hybrid in the school bus industry. Next generation buses may be far from some district's economic reach now, but with more hybrids coming to market, the school bus industry will soon have its own similar questions to answer.